Walter Bagehot, influential mid-Victorian political journalist, born and died in Langport, Somerset.

I recently came across a twitter spat between Tim Montgomerie, conservative political activist and journalist, and Sky News presenter Kay Burley.  Apparently Mr Montgomerie tweeted: “Throughout Sky News we have pundits posing as reporters.”  This brought a reply from Ms Burley which was, shall we say, uncomplimentary.  I think I side with Mr Montgomerie!

Be that as it may, the exchange reminded me of a visit to Langport where I came upon the grave of Walter Bagehot, the esteemed mid-Victorian political journalist, in the churchyard of All Saint’s Church on The Hill.

The west tower of All Saints' Church on The Hill in Langport, Somerset.  The church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

Walter Bagehot was born in the ancient Somerset town of Langport in 1826.  In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Langport thrived as an inland port serving barge-hauled merchandise on the River Parrett.  

Walter was the son of Thomas Watson Bagehot, a leading Langport merchant, who had interests in banking and shipping.  He studied at University College, London, and in 1852 he returned to Langport to enter his father’s business. 

At the age of 31 he married Eliza, the daughter of James Wilson, founder and editor of The Economist.  When Wilson died in 1860 while in Calcutta advising the Indian government on its finances, Bagehot succeeded him as editor.  For the next 17 years, until he succumbed to pneumonia at the early age of 51, he wrote The Economist’s main article.

Writing on political, economic and social affairs, he was one of the most influential journalists of his day and had leading politicians among his friends, including William Gladstone, the first Liberal prime minister. 

It is said Bagehot did not persevere in a political career because he was not a good speaker and failed in his attempts at being elected to Parliament.  I wonder what he would have made of Twitter!

Walter Bagehot died in Langport on 24 March 1877.  He is buried in the churchyard of the town's All Saints' Church.  His headstone is on the right, to the left is that of his father and mother.